“That wallaby would take about 5 to 7 days to digest completely and the snake would go and hide for at least a month.

“From past experience with breeding and dealing with hundreds of snakes, they have different appetites. Some snakes will start looking for food even if they are overweight and have just eaten, but on average that meal would be sufficient to sustain that snake for at least 3 months,” he said.

Here’s the snake in action.

The snake finds its prey.

Photo: Paul O'Neill / NT Parks and Wildlife

And takes its first bite.

Photo: Paul O'Neill / NT Parks and Wildlife

Constricting it in the process.

Photo: Paul O'Neill / NT Parks and Wildlife

Doing so the snake tightens its coils every time the prey exhales, squeezing the prey's chest until it can no longer inhale and dies.